St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-03-21
THE pENsTENT THIEF.
Rev. NJ. Falk GIertsOn Compares
Him TIC Jesus Christ.

H1thh dC y esuS OnFaSt.
At the Lenten service in Trinity Nor
wegian Lutheran church Rev. NJ. Falk
GjertSon preached from Luke %, 43, on
The Penitent Thief"
They seem alike, those three crucitied ones
on Calvary, and yet what unreasonable differ
ence between them; He in the middle whose
punishment and suffering is greatest is no
criminal, but the lamb of God, taking away
the sins of the world; on one side of Him a
thief, disappearing and curSing till the last
breath, going to his peace; on the other side
an equally great sinner, repenting, praying,
turning, going to heaven with Christ. This
scene is typited by the innocent Joseph in
prison with Pharoah's chief butler and baker :;
both in prison with Joseph; Doth a similar
dream, yet what a difference. This same
thing takes place again and again in the his
tory of the world and the church. 1t is a
prophecy of the scene, that at all times is en-
acted under the cross. 1t is there the roads
part-One turns to Him and is saved, another
turns away from Him, and is lost.
To whom are these words spoken? Not to
a saint, who has lived n life of faith and love
and through work and trials reached q high
degree Of holiness and done great things for
the kingdom of God. No, but to criminal
thief, who has led a life full of sin and
crime, ending with his just punishment But
what has he done that he should hear this
word? Look at the other thief, uttering bias
phemies. Are you Christ, such a miserable
thing as yon are? 1t was an hour of grace
and visitation even for him. 1t is terrible to
| spend whole life in sin, but it is still more
! fearful, dying, to reject the mercy Of God
| and blaspheme Him with his last breath, when
a sinner caught and stricken down by the all
powerful hand of God, instead of being hui
| inflated, curses God, who chastiseth him.
! But the other thief confesseS his sin. II have
| deserved my fate How hard it is to confess
| our sins before God and men. His body is
! torn. hung on a cross his blood streaming
| II have deserved it ALL" If he suffered the
pains of hell he would look up to God, saying
! have deserved it all. He looks up to Christ
with pray ing faith. He sees what is hidden to
others. He realizes the innocence OF Christ.
! And yet more. he prays: Lord remember me
when Thou contest into Thy Kingdom He
sees nothing but shame, misery and death
and still believes in glory. power and life
sees d condemned criminal and sees in him
| the king of glory. What has worked this
faith in his heart? The sight of the patient
sufferings of Christ, his prayer for those who
crucified him. his words Of love to Mary and
John, the divine look of love and patience
upon the face under the crown of thorns.
And what an answer he received.
| And We have seen more than the penitent
! thief: we have seen the risen Savior; we
have seen His kingdom spread over the
earth. Shall we be left behind when the
thief enters? He is held forth to us as a
pledge. Now there is salvation for all sin.
ners, without doubt and without contradic
ton. No one shall say: My sins are toe
many, too great, there is no forgiveness -
Yes, forgiveness for the thief, forgiveness
| for you. No one shall think: II have sinned
too long, it is too late, / am lostl' No, not
| TOO late, not too late for the dying thief, not
too late for YOU. The divine loving eyes are
upon you. Learn to live in faith and you are
| saved.